Suspension for lighting fixtures



June 9, 1953 H. WRIGHT 2,641,433

SUSPENSION FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Nov. 15, 1949 I N VE N TOR HOWARD L [JR/6W T Patented June. 9, 1953 NI'TED STATES PATENT OFFI CE 2,641,433 SUSPENSION FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Howard L. Wright, Leaside, Ontario, Canada; as-

signor to Gurtis Lighting of Canada Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application N vember 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,285

6 Claims. (Cl. 248 -343) This invention relates to means 101' supporting fixtures, and more particularly to hangers for fluorescent fixtures.

Heretofore, hangers of adjustable length have been used in order to suit various ceiling heights and to compensate for irregularities in ceiling contours, but they have been expensive and com plicated. It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a cheap hanger which can be made in a few standard lengths andthe length of which is easily adjustable. This object is achieved by providing a rod, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart shoulders on the rod, and. object supporting means adapted t selectively engage the shoulders.

The invention is described in the following specification and is illustrated, by way of ex.- ample in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein: i

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a'fiuorescent light fixture suspendedfrom a ceilin by a pair of hangers constructed according to this inven tion; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a ceiling plate pro- Viding the means whereby the hanger is attached to the ceiling; v

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hanger, Showing the ceiling and fixture plates in section:

Fig. .4.- is a bottom plan view of the fixture plate shown in Fig. 3; and I I v 1 Fig. 5 s a f a mentary section through a fixture plate-s n part of changer inxsiclejelevation, taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

A fluorescent light fixture I is suspended from ceiling plate I2 by a pair of hangers indicated generally at I I, I I. Although the hangers are shown for use with a fluorescent light fixture it will be obvious that they may be used to support other objects. The ceiling plate may be secured to a ceiling or other supporting body by screws passed through holes I 3, I3 in a plate. A rectangular slot I4 is provided in a depressed portion l2 in the plate through which the end of a hanger passes. Each hanger is formed of a pairof rods I5 and I5, joined together at their upper ends or made integral. A pin I'I supports the rods at their junction and prevents them from pulling through the slot It. In the pre ferred construction the rods are provided by a looped or hair pin formed slender steel wire of sumcient strength to support the intended amount of weight.

The lower ends of the rods I5 and I6 are 2 adapted to pass through a pair of spaced apart apertures I8, 18in a fixture plate orbracketifl shaped in substantially the same manner as that 01 the ceiling plate I2. The bracket I9 is provided with a pair of holes 20, 29 in order that it may be screwed to the fixture ID.

A plurality of flattened portions or recesses 2i are provided in the rods, these recesses being formed by a process known as hammering or swedging. These recesses are spread apart substantially equal distances longitudinally of the rods, and the recesses on each rod are located substantially opposite a corresponding recess in the adjacent rod. As'shown in Figs. 3 and 5, each of the recesses 2I provides shoulders onthe rods which may be engaged by the edges of one of the slots 22 which are formed at opposite ends of aplate 23. The rods orwires, which are of somewhat resilient'material, are passed through the apertures I8, la in the bracket I3 and are then spread apart sufliciently to permit a pair of oppositely disposed recesses M to be inserted in the slots 22 in plate 23. The breadth of the slots 22 is less than the normal thickness of the rods I5 and It with the result that the edges of the slot 22 engage the shoulders of the recesses 2| so that when the plate has been selectively located onthe rods it will be retained in that predetermined position relative to the rods and the plate prevents the ends "of the rodsfrom pulling out'through the apertures I8, I8 in'the bracket I 9.

The purpose of having a. plurality of equally spacedrecesses or shoulders. I one shoulder'on each rod being located opposite a corresponding shoulder on the other rod, is to permit adjustment of the position of the fixture on the hanger so that the distance of the fixture from the ceiling may be adjusted as required. When the user has determined the distance from the ceiling at which he wishes to support the fixture and the length of hanger required, the lower ends of the wire rods are cut off at a point just below the pair of recesses which are to be inserted in the slots in the plate 23. It will he evident that this provides a distinct advantage since only one size of hanger rod need be kept in stock, the rod being trimmed down in each case by an appropriate amount to suit the individual requirements.

An adjustment screw 24 is provided in the bracket I9 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the screw bearing upon the upper side of the plate 23. By tightening or loosening the screw, the plate can be pushed down and away from the inner, upper surface of the bracket I9, or can be allowed to retract closer thereto, thereby providing means for levelling a fixture which is supported by two or more such hangers, in order to compensate for irregularities in the ceiling height.

It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the above description of the various parts and their purpose. It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. i

What I claim as my invention is:

vertically disposed rods, each rod having a plurality of spaced apart shoulders, a bracket adapted to besecured to the object, the bracket having a pair of apertures therein through which the rods pass, and a supporting member adapted selectively to engage the shoulders on the rods below the bracket, said rods being adapted to be spread apart and returned to their normally substantially parallel relationship for disengagement and engagement with the supporting member, and spacing means located between the bracket and the supporting member whereby the supporting member supports the bracket. H

2. A hanger for suspending an object, said hanger-comprising a pair of rods normally having a predetermined spaced apart substantially vertical relationship, each rod having .a plurality of spaced apart shoulders, a bracket adapted to be secured to the object, the rods passing through the bracket, and a supporting member adapted selectively to engage the shoulders on the rods below the bracket to support thebracket, said rods being adapted to be displaced laterally from said predetermined spaced apart relationship and returned to said relationship for disengagement and engagement with the supporting member.

3. A hanger for suspending an object, said hanger comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially vertically disposed rods, each rod having a plurality of spaced apart shoulders, a bracket adapted to be secured to'the object, the rods passing through the bracket, and a supporting member adapted selectively to engage the shoulders .on the rods below the bracket, and spacing means located between the bracket and the supporting member whereby the supporting member supports the bracket.

1. A hanger for suspending an object, said I hanger comprising a pair of spaced apart nor;- v mally substantially parallel and substantially 4. A hanger for suspending an object, said hanger comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially vertical rods, each rod having a plurality of spaced apart shoulders, a bracket adapted to be secured to the object, the rods passing through the bracket, a supporting member adapted selectively to engage the shoulders on the rodsbelow the bracket tosupport the bracket, and means for varying the distance between the bracket and the supporting member.

' ,5. A hanger for suspending an object, said hangercomprising a pair of spaced apart submember adapted selectively to engage the shoulders on the rods below the bracket, and an adjustment screw in one of the brackets and the supporting means, the screw bearing adjustably on the other of the bracket and the supporting memberlfor supporting the bracket and varying the distance between the bracket andthe supporting member.

6. A hanger for suspending an object, said hanger comprising a pair of rods normally having a predetermined spaced apart relationship, each rod having a plurality of spaced apart shoulders, a bracket adapted to be secured to the object, the rods passing through the bracket, and a supporting member comprising a plate extending between the rods below the bracket for supporting the bracket and having a pair of slots adapted to receive the rods so that the shoulders,

of the rods may be selectively engaged by the plate, said rods being adapted to be spread apart and returned in the said slots to said predetermined spacedapart relationship. for engagement with the plate. 

